# If usain bolt sprinted through a school zone, exceeding the 25mph speed limit, could he be cited? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 24, 2019, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-sprinted-through-a-school-zone-exceeding-the-25mph-speed-limit-could-he-be-cited/833020 "2019-04-24T23:05:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-sprinted-through-a-school-zone-exceeding-the-25mph-speed-limit-could-he-be-cited/833020/41 "2019-04-27T14:59:19Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > I’m sure horse riding isn’t allowed on highways in NJ, except maybe on the shoulder on certain types of highways, but not in a lane, so no. > Horses, of course, move under their own power, just like cars do, even though we press the gas pedal. An example of human power is pedaling a bicycle. In the New Jersey motor vehicle code the definition of Highway basically means any public roadway. It’s not what do you think a highway is. ‘“Highway” means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.’ ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-sprinted-through-a-school-zone-exceeding-the-25mph-speed-limit-could-he-be-cited/833020/42 "2019-04-27T15:22:15Z")
^ I understand that. Are horses allowed to ride in the main lane of any roadway and not over to the side? ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-sprinted-through-a-school-zone-exceeding-the-25mph-speed-limit-could-he-be-cited/833020/43 "2019-04-27T21:16:42Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > Horses, of course, move under their own power, just like cars do, even though we press the gas pedal. An example of human power is pedaling a bicycle. I understand that, but I could see an argument that a horse does not use its own power unless first started by human power. Of course, the same could be said for a car, so its not the best argument, but lawyers get paid to at least think of this kind of craziness. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-sprinted-through-a-school-zone-exceeding-the-25mph-speed-limit-could-he-be-cited/833020/44 "2019-04-28T21:01:09Z")
A black man running down the street at 25MPH is more likely to get shot than fined. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-sprinted-through-a-school-zone-exceeding-the-25mph-speed-limit-could-he-be-cited/833020/45 "2019-04-28T21:33:07Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > In Texas, speed limits exist for people operating vehicles (which can include bicycles), so, no, running wouldn’t count. I imagine most states would be similar, but laws do sometimes vary in surprising ways by state. What if he made an illegal lane change to pass a slow vehicle? He needs running shorts with blinkers. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2019, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-sprinted-through-a-school-zone-exceeding-the-25mph-speed-limit-could-he-be-cited/833020/46 "2019-04-29T00:03:07Z")
**[Moderating]** **Peanuthead** , that sort of commentary is unrelated to speeding laws, and isn’t really appropriate to GQ. Cut it out. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2019, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-sprinted-through-a-school-zone-exceeding-the-25mph-speed-limit-could-he-be-cited/833020/47 "2019-04-29T01:35:35Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > **[Moderating]** > > **Peanuthead** , that sort of commentary is unrelated to speeding laws, and isn’t really appropriate to GQ. Cut it out. Okay boss. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2019, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-sprinted-through-a-school-zone-exceeding-the-25mph-speed-limit-could-he-be-cited/833020/48 "2019-04-29T15:18:18Z")
A co-worker was cited for doing 42 in a 30-mph zone… on his bicycle. He surmised the radar had reflected off someone going the other way in an auto. He fought it by going to court and saying, “Your honor, if I could pedal a bike at 42-mph, I’d be in the Olympics!” Case dismissed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-sprinted-through-a-school-zone-exceeding-the-25mph-speed-limit-could-he-be-cited/833020.md?page=2)